LIGHTNING SLICES UP THE PIE WITH NEW CEO IN TAMPA

The Lightning's general partner, Kokusai Green Ltd., has
named a team CEO to operate out of the team's headquarters in
Tampa. Saburo "Steve" Oto has replaced "the seldom-seen, non-
English speaking" Yoshio Nakamura as President of Lightning
Partners, Ltd., which oversees the business operation of the
team. Oto said the changes are "structural in nature, and has
nothing to do with Nakamura's performance or that of the team's
governor, David LeFevre." Oto will oversee both LeFevre and
Lightning President & GM Phil Esposito. Oto, who stresses he will
"exemplify Kokusai Green's commitment to the Bay area": "This
hockey team is a very important part of Kokusai Green's holdings,
so what we are doing here is adding power. We are making a
powerhouse" (Roy Cummings, TAMPA TRIBUNE, 11/23).